[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 109 (Wednesday, June 7, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 30013-30019]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-13861]



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FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM

12 CFR Part 203

[Regulation C; Docket No. R-0881]


Home Mortgage Disclosure

AGENCY: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

ACTION: Proposed rule; staff interpretation.

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SUMMARY: The Board is publishing for comment a staff commentary to 
Regulation C (Home Mortgage Disclosure). The commentary applies and 
interprets the requirements of Regulation C. The proposed commentary 
provides guidance on various issues including the treatment under 
Regulation C of prequalifications, participations, refinancings, home 
[[Page 30014]] equity lines, mergers, and loan applications received 
through a broker. The Board believes the proposed commentary will 
reduce burden and ease compliance by clarifying a number of issues, by 
providing flexibility in compliance, and by consolidating the guidance 
that is currently available from a variety of sources.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 7, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Comments should refer to Docket No. R-0881 and may be mailed 
to William W. Wiles, Secretary, Board of Governors of the Federal 
Reserve System, 20th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, 
DC 20551. Comments also may be delivered to Room B-2222 of the Eccles 
Building between 8:45 a.m. and 5:15 p.m. weekdays, or to the guard 
station in the Eccles Building courtyard on 20th Street, NW. (between 
Constitution Avenue and C Street) at any time. Comments received will 
be available for inspection in Room MP-500 of the Martin Building 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays, except as provided in 12 CFR 261.8 
of the Board's rules regarding availability of information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jane Jensen Gell, W. Kurt Schumacher, 
or Manley Williams, Staff Attorneys, Division of Consumer and Community 
Affairs, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, at (202) 
452-3667 or (202) 452-2412; for the hearing impaired only, Dorothea 
Thompson, Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, at (202) 452-3544.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Board's Regulation C (12 CFR Part 203) implements the Home 
Mortgage Disclosure Act of 1975 (HMDA) (12 U.S.C. 2801 et seq). HMDA 
requires most mortgage lenders located in metropolitan areas to collect 
data about their housing-related lending activity. Annually, lenders 
must file reports with their federal supervisory agencies and make 
disclosures available to the public. The reports and disclosures cover 
loan originations, applications that do not result in originations (for 
example, applications that are denied or withdrawn), and loan 
purchases. Information reported includes the location of the property 
to which the loan or application relates; the race or national origin, 
gender, and gross annual income of the borrower or applicant; and the 
type of purchaser for loans sold in the secondary market.
    The Board has received many requests from other supervisory 
agencies and from financial institutions suggesting adoption of a staff 
commentary to Regulation C to provide guidance on compliance with the 
regulation. In response, the Board is proposing to issue a staff 
commentary (12 CFR part 203 (Supp. I)) that interprets the regulation. 
The Board believes the commentary will provide significant assistance 
to institutions by clarifying a number of issues and providing 
flexibility in compliance with the regulation. The proposed commentary 
follows the narrative format used in most of the Board's other staff 
commentaries, such as those issued to interpret Regulation Z (12 CFR 
part 226) and Regulation B (12 CFR part 202). The proposed commentary 
provides general guidance in applying the regulation to various 
transactions, and would be updated periodically to address significant 
questions that arise.

II. Explanation of Proposed Commentary

    The proposed commentary incorporates much of the guidance in A 
Guide to HMDA Reporting--Getting It Right!, developed by member 
agencies of the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council 
(FFIEC) (the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal 
Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Office of Thrift Supervision, the 
National Credit Union Administration, and the Federal Reserve Board), 
and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Other sources of 
material in the proposed commentary include supplementary information 
published in the Federal Register notice of the amendments to 
Regulation C recently adopted by the Board (59 FR 63698, December 9, 
1994) and other Federal Register notices on Regulation C, and portions 
of Appendix A to the regulation. The Board believes that consolidating 
the guidance that is currently available from a variety of sources into 
one source will ease compliance and reduce burden.
    The Board solicits suggestions on additional issues that are not 
addressed in this proposal but that may need clarification, and will 
consider adding commentary material to address such issues in the final 
version of the commentary.
    In cases where provisions of Regulation C have been modified by the 
amendments issued by the Board in December 1994 (scheduled to take 
effect on a mandatory basis in calendar year 1996), the relevant 
commentary provisions relate to those amendments rather than the 
existing regulatory requirements.
    Most of the proposed commentary material is self-explanatory. The 
following discussion, however, provides some explanation on a few of 
the points covered in the proposal.

Section 203.1--Authority, Purpose, and Scope

1(c) Scope

Refinancings

    Proposed comments 1(c)-3 and -4 clarify that an origination 
includes the refinancing of a home purchase loan for purposes of 
determining coverage and exemptions from coverage. The comments provide 
guidance on alternate ways an institution may identify transactions to 
determine coverage and data collection requirements.

Participations

    Proposed comment 1(c)-7 would allow the reporting of an 
institution's partial interest in a participation loan, at the 
institution's option. Among other things, this would allow an 
institution to report its partial interest in a large-dollar home 
purchase or home improvement loan. Of course, given the exclusion in 
section 203.4(d) from reporting the purchase of an interest in a loan 
pool, the present comment is intended to allow the reporting of partial 
interests where the reporting institution has a direct interest in the 
loan itself, and not an interest in a security such as a mortgage-
backed security.
    The Board solicits comment on whether reporting participation 
interests in this manner will address home mortgage lending by a 
consortium of lenders. A consortium may be structured in several ways. 
If a consortium is a nonprofit mortgage lender, it would not be covered 
under Regulation C. If the consortium is a for-profit mortgage lender 
that meets the tests for coverage under Regulation C, it would report 
applications and loans originated by the consortium. If the consortium 
is structured so that participating lenders underwrite and originate a 
loan, each lender may report its partial interest in the loan.

Section 203.2--Definitions

2(b) Application

Prequalifications

    Financial institutions must report action taken upon applications 
for (as well as originations and purchases of) home purchase and home 
improvement loans (including refinancings). Institutions have asked the 
Board for clarification on the correct treatment under Regulation C of 
prequalification and preapproval programs. [[Page 30015]] 
    In its amendments to Regulation C issued in December 1994, the 
Board deferred a final determination on whether and how lenders ought 
to report prequalifications (or preapprovals). Instead, the Board 
provided that institutions need not include data about 
prequalifications (or preapprovals) in their HMDA submissions for 
calendar year 1994 or 1995.
    The Board believes that prequalification requests (as that term is 
used in the proposed commentary) are not applications for purposes of 
Regulation C, even though they may be applications under Regulation B. 
Proposed comment 2(b)-2 provides guidance so that institutions can 
distinguish a request for a prequalification from an application under 
Regulation C.
    The Board may consider proposing amendments to Regulation C to 
address prequalifications and preapprovals, including whether 
institutions should be required to report some or all preapproval 
requests. (A preapproval request is generally considered to be a 
request by an applicant for a commitment from an institution to lend a 
specific amount, subject to the applicant's selection of residential 
property that is satisfactory to the institution. A preapproval program 
may be part of or separate from the institution's mortgage loan 
application program.) If, for example, coverage included all 
preapprovals, the Board might consider adding to the purpose codes 
``code 5. Preapproval'' to distinguish preapprovals from other 
application procedures. The Board may also consider adding a new action 
taken code, such as ``code 7. Loan preapproved'' to distinguish 
situations where a loan is preapproved but not originated from other 
actions taken on applications.

2(e) Financial Institution

Foreign banks

    Proposed comments 2(e)-1 and -2 discuss coverage of various types 
of branches and other offices of foreign banks for purposes of 
Regulation C. The definition of a covered institution in HMDA refers, 
in part, to banks as defined in the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (FDI 
Act). The FDI Act definition of ``bank'' includes certain types of 
branches and offices of foreign banks, and excludes other types. 
Accordingly, certain branches and offices of foreign banks, which meet 
the FDI Act definition of ``bank,'' are covered by HMDA as depository 
institutions (assuming they are not excluded by some other exemption). 
Other branches and offices of foreign banks, which do not meet the FDI 
Act definition, are covered by HMDA only if they meet the tests for 
coverage of nondepository institutions.

2(g) Home-purchase Loan

Home Equity Lines

    Under Regulation C, institutions have the option to report that 
portion of a home equity line of credit that the borrower indicates, at 
the time of application or when the account is opened, will be used for 
home improvement purposes. Proposed comment 2(g)-6 sets forth the same 
position with regard to home equity lines to be used for home purchase 
purposes. As in the case of home equity lines for home improvement, the 
institution may choose not to report home equity lines at all. If the 
institution reports home equity originations, the institution must also 
report home equity applications that did not result in originations. If 
the institution chooses to report a home equity line, it should report 
only the amount indicated at time of application or establishing the 
credit line, to be used for purposes of purchasing a dwelling.

Section 203.3--Exempt Institutions

3(a) Exemption Based on Location, Asset Size, or Number of Home-
purchase Loans

Mergers

    Proposed comment 3(a)-2 deals with reporting responsibilities in 
situations where two financial institutions merge. The proposed comment 
is based on material in the Guide to HMDA Reporting, but additional 
detail has been added concerning mergers involving a covered and an 
exempt institution. (Other material from the section of the Guide 
relating to mergers and changes in supervisory agencies appears in 
proposed comments 3(a)-3 and 5(a)-1.)

Section 203.4--Compilation of Loan Data

4(a) Data Format and Itemization

Paragraph 4(a)(6)

Location of Property--BNAs

    Proposed comment 4(a)(6)-4 allows institutions to report block 
numbering areas (BNAs) for properties located in counties for which 
census tracts have not been established. This option would provide more 
detailed information that may be used to examine and assess an 
institution's housing-related lending.

Paragraph 4(a)(7)

Income of Applicants

    Proposed comment 4(a)(7)-5 provides guidance regarding data 
reporting requirements for applicant income. The comment clarifies that 
institutions must report all income used to make the credit decision. 
This figure would include any income the institution considers in 
qualifying the applicant, even if the funds are not factored into the 
debt-to-income ratio analysis.

III. Form of Comment Letters

    Comment letters should refer to Docket No. R-0881. The Board 
requests that, when possible, comments be prepared using a standard 
courier typeface with a type size of 10 or 12 characters per inch. This 
will enable the Board to convert the text into machine-readable form 
through electronic scanning, and will facilitate automated retrieval of 
comments for review. Comments may also be submitted on computer 
diskettes, using either the 3.5'' or 5.25'' size, in any IBM-compatible 
DOS-based format. Comments on computer diskettes must be accompanied by 
a hard copy version.
List of Subjects in 12 CFR Part 203

    Banks, banking, Consumer protection, Federal Reserve System, 
Mortgages, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the Board proposes to 
amend 12 CFR part 203 as follows:

PART 203--HOME MORTGAGE DISCLOSURE (REGULATION C)

    1. The authority citation for part 203 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 12 U.S.C. 2801-2810.

    2. Part 203 would be amended by adding a new Supplement I--Staff 
Interpretations after the Appendices to read as follows:

Supplement I to Part 203--Staff Interpretations

Introduction

    1. Status. This commentary in this supplement is the vehicle by 
which the staff of the Division of Consumer and Community Affairs of 
the Federal Reserve Board issues staff interpretations of Regulation 
C (12 CFR part 203).

Section 203.1--Authority, Purpose, and Scope

1(c) Scope.
    1. General. The comments in this section address issues 
affecting coverage of institutions, exemptions from coverage, and 
data collection requirements. (Paragraphs I., II., IV. and V. of 
Appendix A of this part.) [[Page 30016]] 
    2. Meaning of refinancing. A refinancing of a loan is the 
satisfaction and replacement of an existing obligation by a new 
obligation by the same borrower. The term ``refinancing'' refers to 
the new obligation. If the existing obligation is not satisfied and 
replaced, but is only renewed or modified (such as in certain 
``modification, extension, and consolidation agreements''), the 
transaction is not a refinancing. (Paragraph V.A.5. Code 3. of 
Appendix A of this part.)
    3. Refinancing--coverage. For purposes of determining whether an 
institution is covered by Regulation C or is exempt, an origination 
of a home purchase loan includes the refinancing of a home purchase 
loan. (Paragraphs I.B., I.C. and I.D. of Appendix A of this part.) 
When an institution refinances an existing obligation, the 
institution must either:
    i. Assume that if the refinancing results in a new obligation 
secured by a lien on a dwelling, the new obligation is a refinancing 
of a home purchase loan under Regulation C (and may assume, if the 
new obligation is not secured by a lien on a dwelling, that it is 
not a refinancing of a home purchase loan); or
    ii. Determine the purpose of the existing obligation. The 
institution may use the following guidelines:
    a. The institution may rely on the statement of the applicant or 
borrower.
    b. If the existing obligation was secured, the institution may 
assume that it was for home purchase purposes, and that the new 
obligation is a refinancing of a home purchase loan under Regulation 
C.
    c. If the existing obligation was unsecured, the institution may 
assume that it was not for home purchase purposes, and that the new 
obligation is not a refinancing of a home purchase loan under 
Regulation C.
    4. Refinancing--data collection. For purposes of data collection 
(paragraph V.A.5. Code 3. of Appendix A of this part) an institution 
must either:
    i. Assume that if a refinancing results in a new obligation 
secured by a lien on a dwelling, the new obligation is a refinancing 
of a home purchase or home improvement loan under Regulation C (and 
may assume, if the new obligation is not secured by a lien on a 
dwelling, that it is not a refinancing of a home purchase or home 
improvement loan); or
    ii. Determine the purpose of the existing obligation. The 
institution may use the following guidelines:
    a. The institution may rely on the statement of the applicant or 
borrower.
    b. If the existing obligation was secured, the institution may 
assume that it was for home purchase or home improvement purposes, 
and that the new obligation is a refinancing under Regulation C.
    5. Meaning of ``broker'' and ``investor institution.'' The term 
``broker'' (or correspondent) refers to any party (whether a bank, 
thrift, credit union, mortgage banker, mortgage broker, or other 
type of depository or nondepository institution) that takes and 
processes loan applications from applicants and that has an 
arrangement with another party (an ``investor institution'') under 
which the investor institution (1) reviews the application prior to 
closing, (2) makes a credit decision, and (3) determines whether to 
acquire the loan at or after closing. (Paragraphs IV.A. and V.B.1. 
of Appendix A of this part.)
    6. The broker rule--originations. If an investor institution 
reviews a loan application from a broker prior to closing, makes a 
decision to extend credit, and then acquires the loan at or after 
closing, the investor institution originates that loan for purposes 
of Regulation C, whether the loan closes in the name of the broker 
or the investor institution. If a broker submits a loan application 
to more than one investor, each investor reports the action it has 
taken on the application. For example, each investor denying the 
application reports a denial. (Paragraphs IV.A. and V.B.1. of 
Appendix A of this part.)
    7. Broker's use of investor institution's underwriting criteria. 
A broker makes a decision to extend credit based on underwriting 
criteria set by an investor institution, but without the investor 
institution's review before closing. Under these facts, the broker 
originates that loan for purposes of Regulation C (unless the broker 
is an agent or contract underwriter for the investor institution), 
and the investor institution that acquires the loan after closing 
purchases the loan under Regulation C. If the broker is subject to 
Regulation C, the broker reports as originations the loans that it 
approves and closes, and reports as denials the loan applications 
that it turns down (either because they do not meet the investor's 
underwriting guidelines or for some other reason).
    8. Post-closing review by the investor institution. An investor 
institution agrees with a broker to purchase loans that meet the 
investor institution's underwriting guidelines, which the broker 
uses in making credit decisions on loan applications. The investor 
institution reviews loans only after closing to confirm that the 
loans meet its underwriting guidelines. Under these facts, the 
broker originates the loans and the investor institution purchases 
the loans under Regulation C. If the broker is covered by Regulation 
C, the broker reports as originations the loans that it approves and 
closes, and reports as denials the loan applications that it turns 
down. The investor reports only those loans it purchases.
    9. Third-party underwriting guidelines. An investor institution 
agrees to purchase from a broker loans that have government or 
private insurance, but does not review loan applications prior to 
closing. The broker evaluates loan applications using the insurer's 
guidelines, or delivers applications to the insurer for a 
determination on whether it will insure the loan. After closing, the 
investor institution purchases those loans that have been insured. 
Under these facts, the broker makes the credit decisions and the 
investor institution purchases the loans under Regulation C. The 
investor reports those loans it purchases; it does not report other 
loans. If the broker is covered by Regulation C, it reports as 
originations the loans that it approves and closes, and reports as 
denials the loan applications that it turns down.
    10. Participation loan. If an institution participates in the 
underwriting and origination of a home purchase or home improvement 
loan, it may report the transaction as an origination to the extent 
of its participation interest, or it may choose not to report the 
transaction. If an institution chooses to report originations, it 
must also report applications that do not result in originations 
(for example, denials). When a single institution originates the 
loan and subsequently sells participation interests to other 
institutions, those institutions report their interests as purchased 
loans. (Paragraphs I., II., IV. and V. of Appendix A of this part.)

Section 203.2--Definitions

(2)(b) Application.
    1. Consistency with Regulation B. The definition of 
``application'' in Regulation C is virtually identical to the 
definition of ``application'' in Regulation B (Equal Credit 
Opportunity, 12 CFR Part 202). Accordingly, guidance in the official 
staff commentary to Regulation B is generally applicable to the 
definition of an application under Regulation C. (Paragraph IV.A. of 
Appendix A of this part.)
    2. Prequalification. A prequalification request is generally 
considered to be a request by a prospective loan applicant to a 
lending institution for a preliminary determination on whether the 
prospective applicant would likely qualify for credit under the 
institution's standards, or on how much credit the prospective 
applicant would likely qualify for. Further, a prequalification 
request is generally evaluated by the institution through a 
procedure that is separate from the institution's normal loan 
application process. A prequalification request is not an 
application under Regulation C, even though it may constitute an 
application under Regulation B, requiring a lender to notify an 
applicant of the action taken. (Paragraphs I. and IV.A. of Appendix 
A of this part.)

(2)(c) Branch office.
    1. Depository institution. A branch of a depository institution 
does not include a loan production office or the office of an 
affiliate, nor does it include the office of a third party such as a 
loan broker. (Paragraphs I., V.A.6. and V.C. of Appendix A of this 
part.)
    2. Nondepository institution. A branch of a nondepository 
institution does not include the office of an affiliate or other 
third party. (Paragraphs I., V.A.6. and V.C. of Appendix A of this 
part.) (But see paragraph V.C.6. of Appendix A of this part, 
requiring nondepository institutions to report property location 
even in MSAs where they do not have a physical location.)

(2)(d) Dwelling.
    1. Scope. The definition of ``dwelling'' is not limited to the 
principal or other residence of the applicant or borrower. Thus, 
vacation or second homes and rental properties are dwellings under 
Regulation C. Dwellings include mobile or manufactured homes, 
multifamily structures (such as apartment buildings), and 
condominium and cooperative units. Recreational vehicles such as 
boats or campers are not dwellings. (Paragraphs I.B., IV., and 
V.A.5. of Appendix A of this part.)

(2)(e) Financial institution. [[Page 30017]] 
    1. Branches of foreign banks--treated as a bank. Both a federal 
branch and a state-licensed insured branch of a foreign bank are a 
``bank'' under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, and are covered if 
they meet the tests for a depository institution found in 
Secs. 203.2(e)(1) and 203.3(a)(1). (Paragraphs I.A. and I.B. of 
Appendix A of this part.)
    2. Branches and offices of foreign banks--treated as a for-
profit mortgage lending institution. Federal agencies, state-
licensed agencies, state-licensed uninsured branches of foreign 
banks, commercial lending companies owned or controlled by foreign 
banks, and entities operating under section 25A or 25 of the Federal 
Reserve Act (Edge Act and agreement corporations) are covered by 
Regulation C if they meet the tests for a nondepository mortgage 
lending institution found in Secs. 203.2(e)(2) and 203.3(a)(2). 
(Paragraphs I.C. and I.D. of Appendix A of this part.)

(2)(f) Home-improvement loan.
Paragraph (2)(f)(1).
    1. Home improvement. A home improvement loan is a loan to be 
used for improvements to a dwelling or to the real property on which 
the dwelling is located. (Paragraphs IV. and V.A.5. Code 2. of 
Appendix A of this part.) Examples include:
    i. Installation of a swimming pool;
    ii. Construction of a detached garage;
    iii. Landscaping; or
    iv. Purchase of appliances to be installed as fixtures to the 
dwelling.
    2. Multiple properties. A home improvement loan includes a loan 
secured by one dwelling, with the proceeds to be used to improve 
another dwelling. (Paragraphs IV. and V.A.5. Code 2. of Appendix A 
of this part.)
    3. Mixed-use property. A loan to improve property used primarily 
for residential purposes (for example, an apartment building 
containing a convenience store) is a home improvement loan. 
(Paragraphs IV. and V.A.5. Code 2.)
    4. Multipurpose loan. A loan to make home improvements (even 
though less than 50 percent of the total loan proceeds are to be 
used for this purpose) may be treated as a home improvement loan 
provided that the institution classifies the loan as a home 
improvement loan. (Paragraphs IV. and V.A.5. Code 2. of Appendix A 
of this part.)
    5. Home equity lines. An institution may report the part of a 
home equity line of credit that is for home improvement. An 
institution that reports the origination of home equity lines must 
also report applications that did not result in originations. 
(Paragraphs IV. and V.A.5. Code 2.c. of Appendix A of this part.)
    6. Reliance on statement of borrower. An institution may rely on 
the oral or written statement of an applicant or borrower that the 
loan proceeds will be used for home improvement purposes. 
(Paragraphs IV. and V.A.5. Code 2.c of Appendix A of this part.)

Paragraph (2)(f)(2).
    1. Classification. The requirement that a loan be ``classified'' 
as a home improvement loan provides flexibility to institutions in 
determining which loans to report. An institution meets the 
requirement if it has entered a loan on its books as a home 
improvement loan, or has otherwise identified or coded the loan as a 
home improvement loan. For example, an institution that has marketed 
a loan, ``booked'' it, or reported it on a ``call report'' as home 
improvement loan has ``classified'' it as a home improvement loan. 
(Paragraphs IV. and V.A.5. Code 2. of Appendix A of this part.)

(2)(g) Home-purchase loan.
    1. Multiple properties. A home purchase loan includes a loan 
secured by one dwelling, with the proceeds to be used to purchase 
another dwelling. (Paragraphs IV. and V.A.5. Code 1. of Appendix A 
of this part.)
    2. Mixed-use property. A loan to purchase property used 
primarily for residential purposes (for example, an apartment 
building containing a convenience store) is a home purchase loan. 
(Paragraphs IV.A., IV.B.1. and V.A.5. Code 1. of Appendix A of this 
part.)
    3. Commercial and other loans. A home purchase loan includes a 
loan for home purchase purposes originated outside an institution's 
mortgage lending division (such as a loan for the purchase of an 
apartment building handled by the institution's commercial loan 
department). (Paragraphs IV. and V.A.5. Code 1. of Appendix A of 
this part.)
    4. Farm loan. If the property being purchased is used primarily 
for agricultural purposes--even if the property includes a 
dwelling--a loan to purchase the property is not a home purchase 
loan. (Paragraphs IV.B.1. and V.A.5. Code 1. of Appendix A of this 
part.)
    5. Construction/permanent loan. Construction-only loans are 
``temporary'' financings under Regulation C and are not reported. If 
the institution commits to provide both the construction and the 
permanent financing, however, the loan is a home purchase loan for 
purposes of Regulation C. (Paragraphs IV.A. and B.2 and V.A.5. Code 
1. of Appendix A of this part.)
    6. Home equity lines. An institution may report the part of a 
home equity line of credit that is for home purchase. An institution 
may rely on the oral or written statement of an applicant or 
borrower that the loan proceeds will be used for home purchase 
purposes. An institution that reports the origination of home equity 
lines must also report applications that did not result in 
originations. (Paragraphs IV. and V.A.5. Code 1. of Appendix A of 
this part.)

Section 203.3--Exempt Institutions

3(a) Exemption based on location, asset size, or number of home-
purchase loans.
    1. General. An institution that ceases to be a financial 
institution (as that term is defined in Sec. 203.2(e)) or that 
becomes an exempt institution under this section may stop collecting 
HMDA data beginning with the first calendar year after the event 
that resulted in noncoverage. For example, a bank whose assets drop 
to $10 million or less on December 31 of a given year collects data 
for that full calendar year, but need not collect data for the 
succeeding year. (Paragraph I. of Appendix A of this part.)
    2. Coverage after a merger. Data collection responsibilities 
under several scenarios are described below for the calendar year of 
the merger. (Paragraph I. of Appendix A of this part.)
    i. Two institutions are exempt from Regulation C. The 
institutions merge, producing a covered institution. No data 
collection is required; the surviving institution begins HMDA data 
collection in the following calendar year.
    ii. A covered and an exempt institution merge. The covered 
institution is the surviving institution. Data collection is 
required for the covered institution's transactions; data collection 
is optional for transactions of the previously exempt institution 
(for example, transactions handled in offices of the previously 
exempt institution).
    iii. A covered and an exempt institution merge. The exempt 
institution is the surviving institution. Data collection is 
required for the covered institution's transactions taking place 
prior to the merger, and is optional for transactions taking place 
after the merger date and attributable to the covered institution.
    iv. Two covered institutions merge. The surviving institution is 
required to collect all data for both institutions; it may file a 
consolidated submission or separate submissions for that year.
    3. Mergers versus purchases in bulk. If a covered institution 
acquires loans in bulk from another institution (for example, the 
receiver of a failed institution), but no merger or acquisition is 
involved, the institution treats the loans as purchased loans. 
(Paragraph V.B. of Appendix A of this part.)
Section 203.4--Compilation of Loan Data

4(a) Data format and itemization.
    1. Quarterly updating. An institution should make a good-faith 
effort to enter all data concerning covered transactions--loan 
originations (including refinancings), loan purchases, and the 
disposition of applications that did not result in an origination--
fully and accurately within 30 days after the end of each calendar 
quarter. If the quarterly update shows that some data are inaccurate 
or incomplete despite this good-faith effort, the error or omission 
is not a violation of Regulation C. (Paragraph II.E. of Appendix A 
of this part.)

Paragraph 4(a)(1).
    1. Application date--consistency. In reporting the date of 
application, an institution enters the date an application was 
received or the date shown on the application. The institution 
should be consistent in its practice. (Paragraph V.A.2. of Appendix 
A of this part.)
    2. Application date--application received through broker. For an 
application forwarded by a broker, an institution enters the date 
the application was received by the broker, the date the application 
was received by the institution, or the date shown on the 
application. The institution should be consistent in its practice. 
(Paragraph V.A.2. of Appendix A of this part.)
    3. Application date--reinstated application. If an applicant 
asks an institution to reinstate a counteroffer that the applicant 
previously rejected (or to reconsider a denied application), the 
institution may treat the request as the [[Page 30018]] continuation 
of a single transaction if the applicant's request occurs within the 
same calendar year as the prior disposition of the application. 
Alternatively, the institution may treat the request as a separate 
transaction and the date of the request as the application date. 
(Paragraph V.A.2. of Appendix A of this part.)

Paragraph 4(a)(3).
    1. Loans outside an MSA. If a loan relates to property not 
located in an MSA (or to property in an MSA where the institution 
has no home or branch office under Regulation C), the institution 
may report the actual occupancy status or use the code for ``not 
applicable.'' (Paragraphs V.A.7.c. and V.C.6. of Appendix A of this 
part.)
    2. Multiple properties. If a loan relates to multiple 
properties, the institution reports the owner-occupancy status for 
the property that is reported under comment 1 to paragraph 
203.4(a)(6). (Paragraph V.A.6. of Appendix A of this part.)

Paragraph 4(a)(4).
    1. Multiple purpose loan. If a loan relates to other purposes in 
addition to home purchase or home improvement, the institution 
reports the entire amount of the loan, even though not all of the 
proceeds are for home purchase or home improvement. (Paragraph 
V.A.8. of Appendix A of this part.)
    2. Home equity line of credit. An institution that reports home 
equity lines reports only the amount that the applicant indicates 
will be used for home improvement or home purchase purposes. 
(Paragraph V.A.8.c. of Appendix A of this part.)
    3. Counteroffer. If an institution makes a counteroffer to lend 
an amount different from an applicant's initial request and the 
counteroffer is accepted, the institution reports the loan amount as 
the amount actually granted. If the counteroffer is rejected or if 
the applicant fails to respond to the counteroffer, the institution 
reports the amount initially requested. (Paragraph V.A.8.f. of 
Appendix A of this part.)
    4. Participation loan. An institution reporting a participation 
loan origination enters the amount of its interest. (Paragraph 
V.A.8. of Appendix A of this part.)

Paragraph 4(a)(5).
    1. Action taken--counteroffer. If an institution makes a 
counteroffer to lend an amount different from an applicant's initial 
request and the counteroffer is accepted, the institution reports 
the loan as an origination. If the counteroffer is rejected or if 
the applicant fails to respond to the counteroffer, the institution 
reports the action taken as a denial. (Paragraph V.B. of Appendix A 
of this part.)
    2. Action taken--rescinded transaction. If an applicant rescinds 
a transaction after closing, an institution reports the action taken 
as an origination or as approved but not accepted. (Paragraph V.B. 
of Appendix A of this part.)
    3. Action taken--purchased loan. An institution reports only 
purchased loans, not loans that the institution has declined to 
purchase. (Paragraph V.B. of Appendix A of this part.)
    4. Action taken--conditional approval. If an institution issues 
a loan approval subject to the applicant's meeting certain 
underwriting or other conditions and the conditions are not met, the 
institution reports the action taken as a denial. (Paragraph V.B. of 
Appendix A of this part.)
    5. Action taken date--approved but not accepted. For a loan 
approved by the institution but not accepted by the applicant, the 
institution reports either the date of the commitment letter sent to 
the applicant or any deadline that the institution gave the 
applicant for accepting the offer. The institution should be 
consistent in its practice. (Paragraph V.B.3.b. of Appendix A of 
this part.)
    6. Action taken date--origination. Generally, for originations, 
an institution enters the settlement or closing date. For a loan 
that an investor institution acquired through a broker and reports 
as an origination, the institution enters the settlement date, the 
closing date, or the date the institution acquired the loan from the 
broker. The institution should be consistent in its practice. 
(Paragraph V.B.3. of Appendix A of this part.)
    7. Action taken date--construction/permanent loan. For a 
construction/permanent loan, the institution reports the date the 
institution enters into the construction-loan transaction or when 
the loan converts to the permanent financing. The institution should 
be consistent in its practice. (Paragraph V.B.3. of Appendix A of 
this part.)

Paragraph 4(a)(6).
    1. Multiple properties. For a loan secured by one dwelling and 
made for the purpose of purchasing or improving another dwelling or 
dwellings, an institution reports the location of the property taken 
as security. For a loan secured by two or more dwellings, and for 
the purpose of purchasing or improving one of those dwellings, an 
institution reports the location of the purchased property. 
(Paragraph V.C. of Appendix A of this part.) For example:
    i. For a loan to purchase or improve property A, secured by 
property B, report the location of B (the property taken as 
security);
    ii. For a loan to purchase or improve properties A and B, 
secured by property C, report the location of C (the property taken 
as security);
    iii. For a loan to purchase or improve property A, secured by 
properties A and B, report the location of A (the property purchased 
or improved); and
    iv. For a loan to purchase or improve properties A and B, 
secured by properties A and B, the institution may report the 
location of A or B (one of the properties taken as security). 
Alternatively, the institution may report the loan in two entries on 
its Loan/Application Register (using unique identifiers and 
allocating the loan amount between A and B).
    2. Loans purchased from another institution. The requirement to 
report the location of a property in an MSA where the institution 
has a home or branch office applies not only to loan applications 
and originations but also to loans purchased from another 
institution. This includes loans purchased from an institution that 
itself did not have a home or branch office in that MSA (and thus 
may not have collected the property location information). 
(Paragraph V.C. of Appendix A of this part.)
    3. Mobile or manufactured home. If information about the 
potential site of a mobile or manufactured home is not available, an 
institution may enter the code for ``not applicable.'' (Paragraph 
V.C. of Appendix A of this part.)
    4. Use of BNA permitted. Block numbering areas (BNAs) are 
statistical subdivisions delineated by state agencies and the U.S. 
Census Bureau for grouping and numbering blocks in counties for 
which census tracts have not been established. BNAs (which generally 
are identified in census data by numbers in the range 9501 to 
9999.99) may be entered if no census tract number exists. (Paragraph 
V.C.4. of Appendix A of this part.)

Paragraph 4(a)(7).
    1. Applicant data--joint applicant. If a joint applicant does 
not file the application in person and does not provide the 
monitoring information, the institution reports using the code for 
information not provided by applicant in mail or telephone 
application. (Paragraph V.D. of Appendix A of this part.)
    2. Applicant data--application completed in person. When an 
applicant meets with a loan officer to complete an application that 
was begun previously (for example by mail or telephone), the 
institution must treat the application as taken in person and 
request the monitoring information. A loan closing is not a meeting 
with a loan officer to complete an application. (Paragraph V.D. of 
Appendix A of this part.)
    3. Applicant data--completion by applicant. An institution 
reports the monitoring information an applicant provides. If an 
applicant fails to provide the requested information for an 
application taken in person, the institution enters the data on the 
basis of visual observation or surname. If an applicant checks the 
``other'' box the institution must report using the ``other'' code. 
(Paragraph V.D. of Appendix A of this part.)
    4. Applicant data--interactive video application. An institution 
that uses an interactive application process with video capabilities 
should treat these applications as taken in person and collect the 
information about race or national origin and sex of applicants. 
(Paragraph V.D. of Appendix A of this part.) (See Appendix B of this 
part for procedures to be used for data collection.)
    5. Income data--income relied upon. Except for income of 
cosigners (sureties) and guarantors, an institution enters the gross 
annual income relied on in evaluating the creditworthiness of 
applicants. For example, if an institution uses an applicant's 
salary to compute a debt-to-income ratio, but also relies on the 
applicant's annual bonus to meet underwriting standards and approve 
the loan, the institution reports both salary and bonus. (Paragraph 
V.D.5. of Appendix A of this part.)
    6. Income data--co-applicant. If two persons jointly apply for a 
loan and both list income on the application, but the institution 
relies only on the income of one applicant in evaluating 
creditworthiness, the institution should report only the income of 
the one [[Page 30019]] applicant. (Paragraph V.D.5. of Appendix A of 
this part.)
    7. Income data--cosigners and guarantors. Although an 
institution may rely on the income of cosigners and guarantors in 
making a credit decision, an institution does not report this 
income. Because cosigners and guarantors generally are not 
``applicants'' under Regulation B, they are not treated as co-
applicants under Regulation C. (Paragraph V.D.5. of Appendix A of 
this part.)
    8. Income data--loan to employee. An institution may enter 
``NA'' in the income field for a loan to its employee for privacy 
reasons, even though the institution may have relied on income in 
making its credit decisions. (Paragraph V.D.5. of Appendix A of this 
part.)

Paragraph 4(a)(8).
    1. Type of purchaser--loan participation interests sold to more 
than one entity. Where a loan is originated by one institution but 
is sold to more than one entity, the originating institution reports 
the type of purchaser based on the entity purchasing a majority 
interest, if any. Otherwise, the institution uses the code for loans 
not sold in the calendar year covered by the register. (Paragraph 
V.E. of Appendix A of this part.)

4(c) Optional data.
    1. Agency requirements. The reporting of reasons for denial, 
although optional under HMDA and Regulation C, may be required 
information for institutions that are regulated by an agency such as 
the Office of Thrift Supervision. (Paragraph V.F. of Appendix A of 
this part.)

4(d) Excluded data.
    1. Loan pool. The purchase of an interest in a loan pool (such 
as a mortgage-participation certificate, a mortgage-backed security, 
or a real estate mortgage investment conduit or ``REMIC'') is a 
purchase of an interest in a security and is not reported. 
(Paragraph IV.B.5. of Appendix A of this part.)

Section 203.5--Disclosure and Reporting

5(a) Reporting to agency.
    1. Change in supervisory agency. If the supervisory agency of a 
covered institution changes, the institution reports data for the 
year of the change and subsequent years to its new supervisory 
agency. (Paragraphs I., III. and IV. of Appendix A of this part.)
    2. Subsidiaries. An institution is a subsidiary of a bank or 
savings association (for purposes of reporting HMDA data to the 
parent's supervisory agency) if the bank or savings association 
holds or controls an ownership interest that is greater than 50 
percent of the institution. (Paragraph I.E. of Appendix A of this 
part.)

5(e) Notice of availability.
    1. Poster--suggested text. The wording of the poster text 
provided in Appendix A (``Instructions for Completing the HMDA-
LAR'') is optional. An institution may use other text that meets the 
requirements of the regulation. (Paragraph III.G. of Appendix A of 
this part.)

Section 203.6--Enforcement

6(b) Bona fide errors.
    1. Bona fide error--data from third parties. Although an 
institution may obtain the property location information for 
applications and loans from third parties (such as appraisers or 
``geocoding'' vendors), the reporting institution is responsible for 
ensuring that the data are correct. An incorrect census tract number 
can be treated as a bona fide error (and is thus not a violation of 
the act or regulation) only if the institution has maintained 
procedures reasonably adopted to avoid the error, such as performing 
an audit of the information. (Paragraph V.C. of Appendix A of this 
part.)

    By order of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve 
System, acting through the Secretary of the Board under delegated 
authority, June 1, 1995.
William W. Wiles,
Secretary of the Board.
[FR Doc. 95-13861 Filed 6-6-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6210-01-P